Former Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has said that military action against Iran is now "unavoidable", and that sanctions have been ineffective in persuading the country to halt its nuclear programme. His comments come just weeks after Israeli intelligence experts revealed that Iran could be as little as a year away from possessing enough enriched Uranium to produce a nuclear warhead. Israel claims this intelligence is of a similar quality to that which led to the bombing of the Syrian nuclear reactor at the end of last year. That reactor was destroyed by IAF jets just a few weeks before it was scheduled to become operational. The Israeli government believes this information will cause the US to revise its latest National Intelligence Estimate, which stated that Iran had ceased development of its nuclear programme in 2003. Israeli analysts believe a US or Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities could come after the US Presidential elections in November, and before the new US President is inaugurated in January of 2009. And if the Israeli intelligence on Iran is accurate, it looks like a third Middle East war is coming sooner rather than later.

Quote: ""If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective," Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz told the mass-circulation Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. "Attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable," said the former army chief who has also been defence minister.

Meanwhile, efforts are still underway to bring about a resolution to the Middle East conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have renewed their Annapolis pledge, to formulate a peace agreement before the end of President Bush's term this year. Although not much progress is presently being made, that is not through lack of trying. The Palestinian Authority recently rejected two separate maps drawn up by Israeli negotiators, which would have permitted the establishment of a state on 91.5% of the territories now claimed by the Palestinians. The remaining 8.5%, which comprises mostly of Jewish settlements in the greater Jerusalem area, would be traded for Israeli territory near the city of Hebron. But the Palestinians are only prepared to trade around 1.8% of the land, presumably enough territory to create a corridor between Judea and Gaza, thus dividing Israel in two and bringing them closer to their stated goal of the destruction of the Jewish state.

Quote: ""Our priority objective, which is also that of President Bush, To complete the negotiations by the end of 2008, "said Abbas, who is on an official visit to Tunis. He will be heading to Washington Tuesday. The Palestinians' he said, "hope to reach not an agreement of principles but a framework agreement to be used as the basis for the final agreement... the conclusion of such an agreement is the initial premise needed for peace between the Palestinians and Israel.

As you can see, the prophetic timetable that has been laid out in the Scriptures concerning the end times is 100% accurate. Now I am not sure if an Israeli strike against Iran will happen this year. And I am not sure if a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will be formulated before the end of this year. But if these things were to happen, and if this were the fulfilment of prophecy, it would not contradict what the Bible states. For according to Ezekiel's prophecy, the Magog war is scheduled to occur at a time when Israel is at rest. Whether Ezekiel's war happens as a result of a US or Israeli strike on Persia, we cannot tell. But it will happen at a time when Israel is at peace with its neighbours (Ezekiel 38:11). Therefore we should expect that some sort of peace agreement will be reached before the war with Iran heats up. Whether this agreement is the same one mentioned in Daniel 9:27, I don't know. I think that perhaps the Israelis and Palestinians will reach some sort of 'shelf-agreement', which could be strengthened by the Antichrist at a later date. In any case, these are interesting days we are living in. We are seeing a number of prophecies being fulfilled. The high oil and food prices, a coming war with Iran, peace in the Middle East, lying signs and wonders being performed, the formation of a Mediterranean Union, earthquakes in diverse places. It can only mean one thing. It's time to lift up our heads, for our redemption draws nigh (Luke 21:28). Jesus Christ will soon return for His Church, and then again to set up His Millennial Kingdom upon this earth. But before that a time of trouble, when the Lord will punish the inhabitants of this earth for their wickedness. 

Isaiah 24:17-20
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, [are] upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

These judgements await all those who have not put their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. But God is merciful. There is still time for repentance. The Bible says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance", 2nd Peter 3:9. Will you repent of your sins, and trust Jesus Christ for salvation? He exhausted God's punishment for our sins, when He gave Himself as a sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary. He lives in the power of an endless life, and intercedes on behalf of all those come to Him for salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Source Daily Mail, BBC, YNet News, Haaretz